Nosler 35643 Partition 25 Caliber .257 120 GR Spitzer 50 Box

Nosler Partition 120 Grain .257 Caliber Spitzer Bullets: The Hunter's Choice for Unwavering Performance

For serious hunters and precision reloaders who demand consistent, deep-penetrating, and reliable terminal performance on medium to large game, the Nosler Partition 120 grain .257 caliber Spitzer bullet stands as an industry benchmark. Developed by Nosler, a name synonymous with innovation and quality in bullet manufacturing, the Partition design has been field-proven for over 70 years, cementing its legacy as a top-tier hunting projectile. This bullet is engineered to deliver unparalleled effectiveness, ensuring ethical kills and maximizing the potential of your .257 caliber rifle.

The Engineering Marvel: Understanding the Nosler Partition Design

At the core of the Nosler Partition's legendary performance lies its unique, dual-core construction. Unlike conventional bullets, the Partition features an integral lead alloy partition that separates the bullet into two distinct sections:

• Front Core: The initial, softer lead alloy front core is designed for rapid, yet controlled, expansion upon impact. This section ruptures instantly at the thin mouth of the copper-alloy jacket, initiating a devastating wound channel.
• Rear Core: Supported by the integral partition, the tougher, enclosed rear lead alloy core is designed to retain more than half of the bullet's original weight. This weight retention is critical for maintaining momentum, facilitating deep penetration through tough hide, bone, and muscle, ultimately reaching vital organs.

The fully tapered copper-alloy jacket is meticulously crafted to control expansion. It is thinner at the mouth, allowing for immediate mushrooming, but gradually thickens along the bullet's axis. This gradual thickening ensures that the jacket curls uniformly outward at both high and low velocities, providing consistent expansion across a wide range of impact speeds. This innovative design means hunters can rely on the Partition to perform optimally whether the shot is taken at close range with high velocity or at extended distances where velocity has diminished.

Furthermore, special crimp locks are incorporated into the bullet's design. These robust features add significant strength, helping the bullet resist deformation under the extreme pressures exerted by heavy magnum rifle cartridges during chambering and firing. This ensures reliable feeding and consistent ballistic performance shot after shot.

Why Choose Nosler Partition Bullets? Unpacking the Performance Benefits

When considering the ideal bullet for your next hunting expedition, especially if you're targeting deer, elk, or bear with a .257 caliber rifle, the Nosler Partition offers a compelling array of benefits:

• Exceptional Terminal Performance: The dual-core design guarantees both rapid expansion and deep penetration, creating a wide, devastating wound channel while ensuring the bullet reaches vital organs, even on large, tough-skinned animals. This translates directly to quicker, more humane kills.
• High Weight Retention: With the enclosed rear core retaining over 50% of the bullet's original weight, the Partition maintains its kinetic energy, driving deep into the target. This high weight retention means less bullet fragmentation and more energy delivered where it counts.
• Reliable Expansion Across Velocities: Whether your shot is a close-range encounter or a long-distance precision strike, the Partition's unique jacket design ensures reliable, consistent expansion. This adaptability is invaluable in varied hunting scenarios.
• Superior Accuracy: Nosler's commitment to precision manufacturing means each Partition bullet is crafted to exacting standards. The Spitzer bullet type, characterized by its pointed nose and often a boat-tail base (though not explicitly stated as boat-tail for this specific SKU, the Spitzer profile generally aids ballistics), contributes to a higher ballistic coefficient, leading to flatter trajectories and less wind drift for improved long-range accuracy.
• Proven Legacy: The Partition bullet has been a trusted choice for generations of hunters. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its consistent, reliable performance in real-world hunting conditions worldwide. This isn't just a new product; it's a time-tested icon.
• Ideal for Reloading: For avid reloaders, the Nosler Partition offers a premium component that delivers consistent results. Its uniform construction and robust design handle well during the reloading process, allowing handloaders to craft highly precise and effective ammunition tailored to their specific rifle and hunting needs.

Targeting Medium to Large Game: The .257 Caliber Partition in Action

The Nosler Partition 120 grain .257 caliber Spitzer bullet is specifically engineered for rifles chambered in popular .257 calibers such as the .25-06 Remington, .257 Roberts, and the powerful .257 Weatherby Magnum. This weight and caliber combination is particularly effective for hunting a range of game animals:

• Deer: For white-tailed deer, mule deer, and blacktail deer, the 120-grain Partition provides ample energy transfer and reliable penetration, even through the shoulder or on less-than-ideal angles, ensuring a quick, clean harvest.
• Elk: Many hunters confidently use the 120-grain Partition for elk hunting, especially with the higher velocities achieved in cartridges like the .25-06 or .257 Weatherby. Its deep penetration capability is crucial for reaching the vitals of these robust animals.
• Black Bear: The Partition's ability to drive deep and mushroom effectively makes it a solid choice for black bear, offering the stopping power needed for these resilient creatures.
• Antelope & Similar Sized Game: While perhaps on the heavier side for antelope, the bullet's accuracy and dependable performance make it a viable option for those using a .257 caliber rifle for mixed bag hunting.

Hunters often ask, "What is the best bullet for ethical big game hunting?" or "How can I ensure my bullet penetrates vital organs?" The answer frequently points to designs like the Nosler Partition. Its unique construction provides the confidence needed to take challenging shots, knowing the bullet will perform as intended.

Reloading with Nosler Partition Bullets: A Guide for Precision Enthusiasts

Reloading your own ammunition with Nosler Partition bullets offers significant advantages, including cost savings, improved accuracy tailored to your specific rifle, and the ability to fine-tune loads for optimal performance. When working with the 120-grain .257 Spitzer Partition, consider the following for success:

• Powder Selection: Medium-burn rate rifle powders are generally ideal for .257 caliber cartridges. Consult reliable reloading manuals (e.g., Nosler Reloading Guide, Hornady, Lyman) for specific powder recommendations and starting loads. Powders like IMR 4350, H4350, RL-22, and IMR 4831 are often excellent choices for this weight in .25-06 or .257 Roberts.
• Primers: Standard large rifle primers are typically sufficient for non-magnum .257 cartridges. For magnum cartridges like the .257 Weatherby Magnum, magnum large rifle primers are recommended to ensure complete powder ignition.
• Brass Quality: Consistent brass is key to consistent accuracy. Prepare your brass meticulously by cleaning, de-priming, resizing, trimming, chamfering, and deburring.
• Seating Depth: Experimenting with seating depth can significantly impact accuracy. Start with the manufacturer's recommended overall length (OAL) and adjust slightly in small increments (e.g., 0.005-inch changes) to find the "sweet spot" for your rifle. The crimp locks on the Partition also help maintain bullet integrity and seating depth under recoil, particularly in magnum loads.
• Crimping: While the Partition features crimp locks, whether to apply an additional crimp (and what type) depends on your specific cartridge and rifle. For lever-action rifles or heavy recoil magnum cartridges, a slight roll or taper crimp might be beneficial, but often, the bullet's natural neck tension is sufficient, especially for bolt-action rifles.

The uniform construction of Nosler Partition bullets makes them highly consistent components for reloading, allowing handloaders to achieve sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) groups with properly developed loads. This precision gives hunters an edge, increasing confidence in shot placement, especially at longer distances.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nosler Partition Bullets

Q: What makes the Nosler Partition different from other hunting bullets?

A: The key differentiator is its integral lead alloy partition. This unique design creates two distinct cores, allowing for both rapid, controlled expansion of the front section and deep, straight-line penetration of the rear section due to high weight retention. This combination provides superior terminal performance on game compared to many traditional lead-core bullets that may over-expand or fragment excessively.

Q: Is the Nosler Partition suitable for all types of game?

A: The 120 grain .257 caliber Partition is optimized for medium to large game, including deer, elk, and black bear. Its robust construction ensures it can handle the tough hide and bone of these animals while still delivering devastating energy to vital organs. For smaller varmints or very large, dangerous game, other specialized Nosler bullets might be more appropriate.

Q: Can I use Nosler Partition bullets in any .257 caliber rifle?

A: Yes, as long as your rifle is chambered for a .257 caliber cartridge (e.g., .25-06 Rem, .257 Roberts, .257 Weatherby Mag) and the bullet weight of 120 grains is suitable for your rifle's twist rate. Always consult your rifle manufacturer's recommendations and a reliable reloading manual for compatibility and safe loading data.

Q: How does the Partition's "controlled expansion" work?

A: The bullet's copper-alloy jacket is strategically tapered, being thinner at the mouth for immediate expansion and gradually thickening towards the partition. This progressive thickness ensures that the bullet mushrooms uniformly and consistently, preventing over-expansion at high velocities and promoting reliable expansion at lower impact velocities.

Q: What is the benefit of the crimp locks on the Partition bullet?

A: The special crimp locks are designed to add strength and rigidity to the bullet, helping it resist deformation. This is particularly important under the heavy recoil and extreme pressures encountered with magnum cartridges, ensuring bullet integrity from the magazine to the chamber and through the barrel.

Q: Where can I purchase Nosler Partition bullets?

A: Nosler Partition bullets, including the 120 grain .257 Spitzer (SKU 35643), are available from reputable firearms and reloading suppliers. You can find this premium hunting bullet and other Nosler products at DEGuns, a trusted source for quality shooting sports equipment.

The Nosler Partition 120 grain .257 caliber Spitzer bullet embodies decades of ballistic innovation and proven field performance. It provides hunters with the confidence that comes from using a component designed for ultimate terminal effectiveness, ensuring ethical harvests and memorable hunting experiences. When precision, penetration, and reliable expansion are paramount, the Nosler Partition remains an unparalleled choice.

Nosler Partition 120 gr Spitzer .257 Caliber Product Specifications